The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) received on Wednesday 26 October 2016 His Excellency Fatumanava III Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, Ambassador, who presented her with the letters accrediting him as Permanent Delegate of Samoa to UNESCO.

Ambassador Luteru thanked the Director-General for the support and assistance channelled through the Apia Office for the benefits of communities in the Pacific region and Samoa in particular.  He reiterated Samoa’s continued support of the mandate of UNESCO and highlighted, in particular, the need for UNESCO to focus on science education as one of the top priority areas for attention.  The possible appointment of science Ambassadors for the Pacific was also mooted by the Ambassador.   Finally, Ambassador Luteru highlighted the urgent need for Pacific SIDS to be part of the decision making process through their being represented on the Governing Board of the organisation and in particular UNESCO’s strategic role in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.